In the northern region of Grant Park, right on Michigan Avenue, lies the Art Institute of Chicago, which houses more than 5,000 years of human artistic expression from all over the world.

The newly opened Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago is home to the museum's expansive contemporary and modern art collections, several public areas, and more! Check out our guide to the Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Founded in 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago was built with the intention of being both a museum and school, and that mission is still in place today: the school's graduate program is constantly ranked as one of the best in the country.

Each piece at the Art Institute of Chicago has its own plaque of details explaining who created it, when they created it, what it is made from, and any other information that can be explained about the piece. If you only have a half hour, or the whole day to spend at the Art Institute of Chicago, it's worth a peek.

The Art Institute: Exhibits

The Art Institute displays art in many forms, including paintings, photographs, sculptures and drawings. Ancient artifacts from around the globe, including exclusive gems and diamonds, along with modern art can be found in abundance as well. Art doesn't have to be primeval to be appreciated; the Art Institute of Chicago keeps up with all kinds of expression.

European Painting and Sculpture

The crown jewel among the Art Institute's collections, this group is considered among the finest in the world. Spanning 13th through mid-20th century works, the European collection includes European decorative arts as well as European painting and sculpture, encompassing Impressionism, Postimpressionism, and classic Modern painting and sculpture.

Some of the most identifiable pieces include Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte (right); Gustave Caillebotte's Paris Street and Rainy Day; and Mac Chagall's America Windows, along with works by Paul Cezanne, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and more.

American

The American art collection is another highly celebrated group at this Chicago museum, featuring important paintings and sculpture along with decorative arts, furniture and silver. Mexican artists are also featured in this department, which offers works from the 17th Century to the present.

Among the many artists in this group are Grant Wood (American Gothic), Edward Hopper (Nighthawks), plus multiple pieces by Mary Cassatt, Georgia O'Keefe, John Singer Sargent and Winslow Homer. Walk into the American Decorative Arts collection and you’ll feel as if you’ve walked into a furniture store of the past. Chairs, desks, and tables of all designs and materials fill the space.

Highlights include Sitting Beaver by Frank Gehry in Santa Monica, Calif., an armless chair constructed with corrugated cardboard and plywood in 1929; and Skyscraper Cabinet made of black painted wood and silver detailing resembling the gigantic Manhattan skyline by Paul Theodore Frankl in 1927.

Contemporary

For a crash course in contemporary art, The Art Institute is a good place to go. Its collection of contemporary art covers every major art movement from 1950 to the present and includes painting, sculpture, installation art and new media.

Featured contemporary artists include Alexander Calder, David Hockney, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jackson Pollock, among many others. Modern photography not only uses photographs to portray art, but mixed media like cloth, lace, push-pins and clocks to enhance a photographic masterpiece. Sinking Ship by Joy Boersma in 1987 is a gelatin silver print, three-part photograph.

Architecture and Design

As befits a city celebrated for its pioneering contributions to architecture, the Art Institute's collection of architecture and design includes master works and artists.

The roster of architects includes Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe, and Frank Lloyd Wright – each of whom left their mark on Chicago and can be seen both inside and outside the museum's walls. Look for models, drawings and fragments from the 1870s to present, and from around the world.

Modern

This highly regarded and comprehensive collection of Modern art exists in great part due to important Chicago collectors of the past, such as Potter Palmer and Arthur Jerome Eddy, as well as generous contributions from artists including Georgia O'Keefe and Alfred Stieglitz.

Pablo Picasso's Old Guitarist and Henri Matisse's Bathers by a River are just two among nearly a thousand of The Art Institute's Modern pieces, which come from the Americas as well as Europe.

Global Works

Among the distinguished collections at The Art Institute, you'll find an extensive Asian collection, with 35,000 pieces from China, Korea, Japan, India, Southwest Asia, and the Near and Middle East; African works, primarily from central Africa but also including pieces from north, east and southern Africa; Indian art of the Americas, with ceramics, sculpture, textiles and metalwork; and an Ancient collection with Greek, Etruscan, Roman and Egyptian pieces.

Touch Gallery

“Look, but don’t touch” has always been the motto of museums, no matter where you go, but at The Art Institute of Chicago, they encourage visitors to touch and feel sculptures at The Touch Gallery, located in the lower level of the Allerton Building.

This special area was specifically designed for visually impaired visitors, allowing them the opportunity to examine and appreciate art, but the exhibit is available for everyone to enjoy. Kings, princesses and other noble people in history are sculpted from materials like marble, limestone, granite and bronze and treated with a protective wax, which allows hands to skim over the material without damaging the piece.

Thorne Miniature Rooms

The 68 Thorne Miniature Rooms are like glamorous dollhouses created in extensive detail, giving you a glimpse of European interiors from the late 13th century to the 1930s and American furnishings from the 17th century to the 1930s.

These diorama-esque rooms were constructed on a scale of one inch to one foot, portraying far more than just historically accurate interior design. Kitchens, living rooms, drawing rooms, entryways, and even a four-foot-tall English Roman Catholic Church from the 13th century give the visitor a sense of what it was like to live during each of these periods of history.

Planning Your Visit

When it comes to dining and shopping options at The Art Institute of Chicago, you won't be at a loss for options. Head to the Garden Café for a quick-but-tasty lunch, or get reservations at the acclaimed Terzo Piano for a luxurious, post-stroll dinner. Also be sure to stop into one of four gift shops at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Terzo Piano

You might be surprised when you set foot inside Terzo Piano (left). This is not your ordinary museum restaurant. Award-winning chef Tony Mantuano has put together a menu of authentic Italian dishes that are simple, yet elegant, featuring local, organic, and sustainable ingredients. Located on the third floor of the Modern Wing, Terzo Piano also offers up spectacular views of Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue.

The Garden Café

Located on the lower level near the Columbus Drive entrance, the Garden Café is the perfect go-to for light fare made with sustainable, local, and seasonal ingredients. Choose from lighter bites like sandwiches, salads, and soups to a full grill for burgers, an Italian pizza station, and the always-popular dessert station.

The Main Museum Shop

Located in the Michigan Avenue lobby, this is the main shop at the Art Institute of Chicago, home to a wide assortment of gifts, jewelry, and museum adaptations from around the world.

The Asian/Exhibition Shop

Located at the crossroads of the original Art Institute building and the newly built Modern Wing, the Asian/Exhibition Shop features a rotating selection of beautiful home accents and furnishing, accessories, and books, inspired by the museum's renowned Asian collections and/or temporary exhibits at the museum.

The Modern Wing Shop

Located immediately inside the Modern Wing's Millennium Park entrance, the Modern Wing Shop stocks an array of reproductions, books, design objects, textiles, gifts and jewelry.

The Kids Shop

Located just inside the Ryan Education Center, this shop features a unique assortment of books, toys, games, craft supplies, and other resources to help introduce kids to art and art appreciation, the perfect follow-up to a day at the Art Institute of Chicago.

The Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Bus Co. stops here.